High temperature stable amorphous silica-rich aluminosilicates

ABSTRACT

A solid amorphous silica-rich aluminosilicate composition is stable at temperatures up to 1500° C. or above and is capable of sustained use as a coating under high to extreme temperature conditions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to amorphous aluminosilicates stable at hightemperature and more particularly relates to amorphous silica-richaluminosilicates useful as coatings suitable for use at high to extremetemperatures.

High performance, high temperature resistant materials are needed forapplications that experience high to extreme temperature conditionsnormally in excess of 1000 or 1200° C. or above. Interest in Ultra-HighTemperature Ceramic (UHTC) materials is rapidly emerging with diverseneeds for protective coatings for temperatures ranging above 1500° C. Insuch environments, material degradation from corrosion, which may beaccelerated by air, moisture, salt, or other contaminants, poses aserious problem in advanced materials used and being designed for airand space vehicles and other high performance applications. Ceramicrefractory materials are used in extreme environments such as in glassmaking, metal production, and others uses which are prone to degradationfrom sintering (porosity goes down and so does the toughness) orenvironmental attack. In both cases, if a coating acts as a good barrieragainst sintering or gases that diffuse from external atmospheres, thelife of the refractory may be extended significantly and this could savehigh costs for replacement and/or repair. High temperature resistantcoatings also would be useful in protecting an article made from asuitable substrate such as a ceramic used in such applications. Inaddition, such materials may have engineered porosity (open and/orclosed), which is useful in maintaining targeted performance in end-useapplications. Typically, residual porosity in a bulk material istailored for imparting lower weight while maintaining or improvingtoughness of an article. A beneficial coating system would notsignificantly decrease or degrade the engineered porosity (and therebydegrade performance characteristics based on such porosity) whileprotecting a substrate from corrosion/oxidation or other degradationunder high temperature conditions such as in excess of 1500° C.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A solid amorphous silica-rich aluminosilicate composition is stable attemperatures up to 1500° C. or above and is capable of sustained use asa coating and a protective barrier material under high to extremetemperature conditions. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Amorphous silica-rich aluminosilicates of this invention are stable atextreme temperatures of above 1450° C., above 1500° C., above 1550° C.,or above 1600° C. or above. These aluminosilicates are useful asprotective coatings on substrates typically formed into useful articles,which are subject to extreme operating conditions such as experienced inaero or rocket engines. A protective coating typically is incorporatedonto such substrate as protection against oxidative degradation of thesubstrate during operating conditions.

An amorphous aluminosilicate material of this invention when applied andtreated as a coating to a suitable substrate forms a thin, highlyconformal film bonded onto the substrate with sufficient density and lowthrough-thickness transport properties to enable the coating to serve asa highly effective surface sealant and environmental barrier for theunderlying substrate. The nature of the ‘glassy’ amorphousaluminosilicate material of this invention renders it highly stable inextremely hot environments, and typically is stable and effective as anenvironmental barrier at temperatures of 1000° C. to 2000° C.

Substrates useful in this invention are capable of withstanding atemperature in excess of 1500° C. without melting or destruction for atime sufficient to form a coating of this invention. Typically, suchsuitable substrates are ceramic materials, although high meltingmetallic materials may be useful. Ceramics are materials having a glazedor unglazed body of crystalline or partly crystalline structure, or ofglass, which body is produced from essentially inorganic, non-metallicsubstances and either is formed from a molten mass which solidifies oncooling, or is formed and simultaneously or subsequently matured by theaction of the heat. Ceramics may be metal oxides such as oxides ofaluminum (alumina) or zirconium (zirconia) or yttrium (yttria) orcombinations thereof and non-oxides such as borides, nitrides, carbides,and silicides. Typical ceramics include refractory oxides, siliconcarbide, titanium carbide, silicon carbide in carbon or silicon carbidefiber composites, and carbon-carbon fiber composites

Suitable substrate materials which are used in extreme temperatures arethose which are mechanically strong and stable, preferably lightweight,and durable at elevated temperatures. These materials include siliconcarbide, silicon nitride, carbon, and composites made from thesecomponents, and other nitride, carbide, and oxide-based materials, whichhave good thermal properties and low weight. Typically, these materialswhen uncoated are not stable against prolonged contact with environmentssuch as oxygen and/or water vapor at extreme operating temperatures.Examples of useful applications of coating materials of this inventioninclude protection of turbine engine components which may be formed fromSiC—SiC composites, particularly for materials known as MI SiCcomposites, and protection of carbon-to-carbon (C—C), C—SiC, SiC—SiC andother materials used in rocket propulsion and thermal protection systemsfor space and air vehicles, and hypersonic vehicles. The coatings usedfor environmental protection on these substrate materials according tothis invention permit operations under conditions, which are nototherwise possible or degrade very rapidly such that adequate servicelife is not feasible. Further, coatings of this invention are useful toextend operating lifetimes of current generation high temperatureceramic carbide, nitride, and oxide materials.

Amorphous aluminosilicate materials of this invention typically may beused for coatings on substrates prone to high temperature oxidation,sintering (such as relevant to refractories), or water vapordegradation, such as refractories, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, orcarbon, and various composite materials containing such materials, andinclude other oxide and metallic constituents, such as zirconium nitrideor boron nitride in the form of surface hard coatings, as well asthermal barrier coating (TBC) materials such as stabilized zirconia,barium strontium aluminosilicates, and other thermal or combined thermaland environmental barrier coating (EBC) materials. Amorphousaluminosilicate-based coatings of this invention serve to add bothperformance and lifetime to systems to which they are applied as add-onmaterials, or such coatings may serve to determine new engine design andperformance criteria.

Amorphous aluminosilicates of this invention may be used as anenvironmental barrier coating on heat engine components to increaselifetime, efficiency, and thermal performance. Such heat engines includedevices which transform heat energy into useful work, and includebrayton cycle turbine engines, rocket engines, Carnot engines, rankineengines, and the like.

An aspect of this invention is a coating capable of protecting anattached substrate against oxidative degradation at operatingtemperature in excess of 1450° C., preferably above 1500° C., and morepreferably above 1550° C. or 1600° C. Such coating material ischaracterized as a silica-rich substantially amorphous aluminosilicate.Typically, the Si/Al ratio of such aluminosilicate is greater than 4.Amorphous character of aluminosilicates useful in this invention isdetermined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectra. A substantially amorphousmaterial does not exhibit specific or sharp XRD peaks, which can beattributed to lattice parameters of a crystalline structure. Thesematerials also may be described as a glass.

An aluminosilicate composition of this invention is amorphous andremains substantially amorphous during extreme temperature operatingconditions such as at temperatures of 1500° C. and above, and thus isstable at such temperatures. Thus, a coating formed from such amorphousaluminosilicate is stable (i.e. remains amorphous) and continues to actas an effective oxidative degradation barrier at such extremeconditions.

Conventional aluminosilicate materials formed by combining aluminum andsilicon oxides or sources thereof, which when heated to above 1400° C.or above 1500° C. transform into known crystalline phases depending uponparameters such as composition, temperature, and pressure. For example,a conventional aluminosilicate composition having a Si/Al atomic ratioof 3 heated to 1500° C. will convert to a mixture of crystalline phases,including mullite and silica crystalline polymorphs (such as tridyamiteor cristobalite), which are not microstructurally stable and will notfunction as a suitable diffusion barrier coating upon ceramic or metalsubstrates as an effective environmental barrier coating. Silica-richaluminosilicates of this invention are microstructurally stable atextreme temperatures such as at 1500° C. as well as being capable ofretaining barrier properties for extended time periods at elevatedtemperatures such as above 1000° C., 1200° C., 1500° C., or above. Atthese elevated temperatures silica-rich aluminosilicates are nottransformed to crystalline forms and retain barrier properties.

Silica-rich aluminosilicates of this invention typically have Si/Alatomic ratios above 4, preferably above 5, more preferably above 6, andmay be above 7. Typical Si/Al ratios of aluminosilicates useful in thisinvention may range up to 15 or above and preferably range up to 12.Typical Si/Al ratios include 5-15, 6-10, 7-9, and 8-12.

Because the amorphous aluminosilicate compositions of this inventiontypically are prepared from precursor solutions containing phosphorus,which is partially eliminated during a thermal treatment curing process,these compositions may contain residual amounts of phosphorus.Phosphorus content in typical aluminosilicate compositions of thisinvention range up to 8 mole percent of the total composition. Typicalphosphorus content is 0.1 to 4 mole percent.

Additional elemental components may be present the compositions of thisinvention such as zirconium or rare earth or alkali or alkaline earthmetals (usually in the form of oxides) which impart enhanced thermaldurability or chemical compatibility with substrates. Typicalconcentrations of such other components range up to 5 mole percent ofthe total composition.

Many substrates useful as high performance materials have open-cellporosity, which can be measured as average pore volume. Because suchporosity is important to the usefulness of such high performancematerials (such as heat barriers), a coating that functions to protectthe substrate against oxidative degradation, should not significantlyaffect the porous character of the substrate. Preferably there is lessthan 10 wt. % (preferably less than 2 wt. % and may be below 1 wt. %)change in pore volume after application of a coating of this invention.Thus, a superior coating is thin (typically less than 10 microns,preferably less than 5 microns, more preferably less than 1 micron) andis able to coat surfaces within pores of a substrate and protect allsurfaces of a porous material against oxidative degradation at extremeoperating conditions experienced by such substrate including temperatureand moisture and contaminant concentrations.

Typical coating thicknesses may range from 0.1 μm (100 nm) to over 2000μm (2 mm). The aluminosilicate based coatings used in this mannerprovide protection from ambient oxygen and water vapor ingress to theunderlying component, as well as sintering resistance, protecting fromoxidation and chemical attack of the substrate and/or maintainingengineered porosity, allowing higher sustained service temperatures atconstant lifetime, or constant service temperatures for longerperformance lifetimes, or enabling the use of new generation materialsthat can be protected in aggressive high temperature environments, whichare typified by the existence of temperatures above 1400° C. or above1500° C.

Solid-state oxide powders mixed in ratios similar to those produced incoatings of this invention and heated to 1500° C. should not form aglassy amorphous aluminosilicate phase as demonstrated in thisinvention. A coating applied to a substrate and formed using a precursorsolution according to this invention does show melting andglassification as described in this invention.

The coating material of this invention conveniently may be prepared byheating a mixture of sources of alumina, silica, and phosphorus oxideunder suitable conditions to a temperature at which the material meltsand phosphorus-containing compounds substantially are eliminated as avapor, which leaves a silica-rich aluminosilicate. Some residualphosphorus may remain after the material solidifies (typically less than1 wt. %), which typically is incorporated into the silicate network.

As the phosphorus content of the material decreases, the eutectictemperature at which the remaining aluminosilicate melts increases. Theresult is that the remaining amorphous aluminosilicate solidifieswithout a change in temperature and typically retains its solid formwhen subsequently taken to temperatures above 1550° C. Thus, analuminum-, silicon-, phosphorus-containing starting composition on asubstrate is melted at a temperature typically in excess of 1450° C.(preferably 1500° C. and a solid coating is formed on the substrate,which coating remains solid and functions as an effective oxidationbarrier coating at temperatures in excess of 1500° C.

Amorphous aluminosilicate compositions of this invention may be made byforming a liquid-containing polymeric network (such as a sol-gel)containing oxidic species of aluminum and phosphorus to whichsilicon-containing components are incorporated, which is cured byheating to a temperature sufficient to melt and then to form a glassmaterial. Sol-gel materials typically are formed in an aqueous orpreferably a non-aqueous media such as an alcohol (typically a C₁-C₈alcohol or mixtures thereof and preferably ethanol). In a typicalprocedure, solutions of an aluminum salt (such as aluminum nitrate) anda phosphorus oxide such as phosphorus pentoxide (P₂O₅) are combined inthe presence of a silicon dioxide (silica) or source thereof. Although asilicon-containing source may be in a substrate (such as siliconcarbide), from which silica is produced during formation of a coating,preferably additional silicon-containing material is incorporated intothe aluminum-phosphorus-oxygen sol-gel, such as tetraethylorthosilicate(TEOS, Si(OC₂H₅)₄). It is believed that AlO(4)-O-AlO(6) (i.e. twoaluminums coordinated via oxygen-linked tetrahedral and octahedralcomplexes) may result in a glass network which provides the demonstratedamorphous character at extreme temperatures.

The aluminum to phosphorous molar ratio in a precursor material may bemore than 0.5, and typically is below 1.5 and preferably is below 2.5.

In another aspect of this invention, the source of silica may be a layerof silica deposited on a substrate such as a ceramic or metal on which alayer of aluminum-containing and phosphorous-containing material (suchas a sol-gel). During formation of a coating or composition of thisinvention, silica may be incorporated into the sol-gel precursor fromwhich the high silica aluminosilicate is formed.

In accordance with this invention, amorphous aluminosilicate-basedmaterial environmental barrier coatings may be applied through precursorsolution routes, such as brush or spray painting, flowing the precursorsolution onto the surface to be coated, using a dip coating process,thermally spraying, infiltration processing, or vapor deposition tovarious substrate articles. As an alternative method of application, theprecursor solution contained in the above-mentioned admixtures can bedried to a gel powder, which subsequently can be applied as a slurrylayer by painting, dipping, or spraying. Examples of articles on whichcoatings of this invention may be applied include thermal protectionsystems used in airframes for space and air transportation, hot exhauststructures in turbine or rocket propulsion systems, turbine engineblades, vanes, shrouds, or combustion housing, and other hightemperature components such as cowls, thruster cones and plugs, and thelike, rocket thrust chamber components, or combustion engine pistonheads and walls. Degradation of components in steel, glass making, andadvanced alloy manufacturing (such as nickel based superalloys) is wellknown due to extreme processing temperatures and use of this inventionwould extend part lifetimes in such manufacturing operations to yieldimproved productivity and reduced costs.

In an aspect of this invention, porous refractories are used in metalproduction, such as in steel plants, in which temperatures above1300-1500° C. are used. In refractory uses in which silica already ispresent contacting such silica with an aluminophosphate solutionformulation may produce a silica-rich aluminosilicate material asdescribed in this invention.

Without being bound by a theory, it is believed that a polymeric network(e.g. a sol-gel) initial composition containing Si-Al-O-P structuresmelts at 1500° C. or above, while phosphorus compounds are substantiallyeliminated as vapors. With loss of phosphorus, the melting temperatureof the remaining aluminosilicate increases and such aluminosilicatesolidifies into an amorphous solid state.

In a method of this invention, a liquid-containing glassy network suchas a sol-gel composition containing oxides of aluminum, phosphorus, andsilicon is dried to form a dried precursor typically at elevatedtemperature (usually 100 to 200° C.) or reduced pressure to removevolatile organics, and then cured by heating to at least the meltingtemperature of the resulting mixture for a time sufficient to form aflowable fluid. Such fluid state may form a film or layer on a substratehaving a substantially uniform (typically <10% variation) compositionthroughout the layer with excellent conformality to yield a smoothsurface layer. As the resulting melt layer soldifies after loss ofphosphorus compounds, a relatively smooth layer is obtained which mayalso provide beneficial low friction and aerodynamic flow properties.Typical curing temperatures useful in this invention are above 1450° C.,preferably 1500° C. or above, and may range up to above 1600° C. Atypical range of curing temperatures is between 1475 and 1650° C., andtypically is 1500 to 1600° C. A suitable curing temperature is below thedisintegration temperature of the materials. A suitable curing time isabout one hour and typically may range up to 3 hours or more. Drying andcuring may be conducted in one continuous step.

In an alternative aspect of this invention, an amorphous aluminosilicatecoating may be applied to a substrate by surface heating a layer formedfrom a dried precursor containing oxides of aluminum, phosphorus, andsilicon. In this aspect, the surface layer is heated to a suitablecuring temperature without excess heating of the substrate, therebypermitting substrates with relatively low thermal stability. Forexample, metal substrates, such as steel or titanium or superalloy orother nickel-based alloys may not be stable under processing conditionsrequired to form the aluminosilicate material as prescribed above.Non-metallic substrates may be used such as plastic materials. Anexample of a surface heating technique is laser heating. Due to thediffusion barrier properties of the aluminosilicate material, excellentprotection of metallic substrates over long term can be imparted inharsh service environments over a wide range of temperatures (typicallybelow 1200° C.).

Amorphous aluminosilicate compositions and coatings formed from suchcompositions are stable at a temperature of 1500° C. That is, thealuminosilicate material does not transform to a crystalline form suchas mullite (or related compositions within the alumina-silica two-phasecomposition system) at that temperature. Suitably stable coatingmaterials of this invention do not spall or flake from an adheredsubstrate at operating temperature of 1500° C. Further, coatingmaterials of this invention act as a hermetic barrier to oxygen andresists oxidative corrosion of the substrate. Preferable solid coatingmaterials of this invention are suitably stable under extreme conditionsof temperature (>1500° C., preferably >1600 ° C.) together with presenceof moisture and contaminants such as salt.

Minor amounts of additional materials (typically less than 10 mol %) maybe incorporated into the amorphous aluminosilicate compositions andcoatings of this invention. These materials may be considered as dopantsand include metals such as sodium, zirconium, lanthanum, and the like(typically in the form of oxides). Such dopants can be utilized totailor the melting temperature and to suit specific substrateproperties.

An aspect of this invention is used as a health monitoring coating onheat engine components to increase the overall system performance,efficiency, and reliability. An amorphous aluminosilicate material ofthis invention can be applied to heat engine component, with the primaryapplication method targeted at infiltration of the coating material intothe internal porous surfaces of high temperature exposed substratematerials. This material may be formulated with a small amount of adoping agent that is detectable through non-destructive methods, andalso has a characteristic that changes as a function of exposure time totemperatures typically above 1400° C. Doping agents used in this mannerare readily recognized by those skilled in the state of the art, and aretypically diffusion based indicators with time at elevated temperature,such that the concentration gradient as a function of dopant location,in this case, typically depth within the heat engine porous substratestructure, can be conveniently used to determine the thermal agingprocesses that are occurring in real time to the heat engine substrateand overall component. Dopants that display characteristics of thisnature are typically highly mobile metallic ions, which are generallylocated in the transition metal series, and historically includechromium (Cr), europium (Eu), erbium (Er), cerium (Ce), and neodymium(Nd). An additional advantage of cerium, europium, and neodymium is theflorescent properties which they possess, enabling easier concentrationgradient detection using non-destructive methods. By adding smallamounts of these dopant elements (typically in the form of ions) to theprecursor solution of the amorphous silica-rich aluminosilicate materialin accordance with this invention, these dopant elements may beincorporated into coatings on a substrate such as an engine part.Preferably, such coatings are applied through an infiltration process.The coatings containing a dopant element may be used to monitor thethermal aging profile (“health profile”) of a coated engine component,which may be used to schedule preventative maintenance, avoid prematurepart replacement, and the like to increase engine performance,reliability, and efficiency.

In another aspect of this invention, suitable substrates may be joinedtogether using silica-rich, amorphous aluminosilicate described in thisinvention as an intermediate adhesion layer between such substrates. Inthis aspect, precursor solutions may be applied to one or more surfacesof the substrates, such surfaces placed together, and the resultingcombination cured at temperatures and pressures, which permit melting ofthe aluminum-silicon-phosphorus-containing material to form anintermediate silica-rich, amorphous aluminosilicate layer bonded to bothsurfaces.

In another aspect of this invention, an aluminum-silicon-phosphorusprecursor solution of this invention may be applied to a suitablesubstrate and dried, but not cured. Such a coated substrate may beincorporated into a component, which may be subject to high temperatureconditions. If such conditions become higher than the meltingtemperature of the uncured coating, the coating will be transformed intoa silica-rich, amorphous aluminosilicate as described in this invention,and will become a protective barrier coating to the substrate.

Aspects of the invention are illustrated but not limited by thefollowing examples.

EXAMPLE 1

An aluminosilicate glass material was formed on bulk silicon carbide(SiC) coupons. A low viscosity sol-gel precursor solution was preparedby adding 37.51 grams of aluminum nitrate nonahydrate to 250 millilitersof ethanol. In a separate container, 3.55 grams of phosphorus pentoxidewere dissolved in 250 milliliters of ethanol. The two solutions weremixed and 11.2 milliliters of 98% tetraethyl orthosilicate were addedwith further mixing, and the solution then was stirred under reflux for3 hours. After the substrate coupon was immersed in the precursorsolution for one minute, the SiC substrate was removed from the solutionwith a controlled retraction velocity of 1 cm/second and resulted in awet film on the surface of the SiC substrate. The film was dried andthen cured in air in an oven by ramping the temperature at 10° C./minuteto 1500° C., holding at 1500° C. for 1 hour, and then cooled to roomtemperature at 10° C./minute. The result was an approximately twomicrometer thick film of primarily aluminosilicate glass formed having aSi/Al ratio of 5 and containing 1 wt % phosphorus.

EXAMPLE 2

An aluminosilicate glass material formed on SiC using a low viscositysol-gel precursor solution was prepared according to Example 1. Thealuminosilicate glass was formed by placing about 2 milliliters of theprecursor solution onto a SiC substrate coupon. While the solution wasstill wet, the substrate was spun at 7000 rpm for 10 seconds, creating athin wet film which was dried at 120° C. for 5 minutes. The film wasthen treated under ambient conditions in air using the proceduredescribed in Example 1. The result was a approximately two micrometersthick film of aluminosilicate glassy material on the silicon carbidesubstrate.

EXAMPLE 3

Aluminosilicate glass material was formed on alumina (99.5% pure Al₂O₃having a density of 3.9 g/cc) using a precursor solution. The precursorsolution was prepared by adding 37.51 grams of aluminum nitratenonahydrate to 166 milliliters of ethanol. In a separate container, 3.55grams of phosphorus pentoxide was dissolved in 164 milliliters ofethanol. The two solutions were mixed and 169.2 milliliters of 98%tetraethyl orthosilicate was added with further mixing. The solutionthen was stirred overnight for about 16 hours. The precursor solutionwas applied to an alumina substrate by immersing the substrate in thesolution for one minute and removing the sample with a controlledretraction velocity of 1.5 cm/second. Following removal from theprecursor solution, the sample and resulting wet film were dried 120° C.for 10 minutes. The dipping and drying procedure was repeated threetimes on each sample. Following the dipping/drying steps, the sample wascured in air by ramping at 10° C./minute to 1500° C., held at thattemperature for one hour, and then cooled to room temperature at 10°C./minute. The result was a glassy aluminosilicate materia on thesurface of the Al₂O₃ substrate.

EXAMPLE 4

A precursor solution was prepared by adding 34.51 grams of aluminumnitrate nonahydrate to 173 milliliters of ethanol. In a separatecontainer, 6.55 grams of phosphorus pentoxide was dissolved in 174milliliters of ethanol. The two solutions were mixed and 152.7milliliters of 98% tetraethyl orthosilicate was added with furthermixing. The solution was then stirred overnight, about 16 hours. Theprecursor solution was applied to an alumina substrate bydipping/submerging the substrate in the solution for one minute andremoving the sample with a controlled retraction velocity of 1.5cm/second. Following removal from the precursor solution, the sample andresulting wet film were dried 120° C. for 10 minutes. The dipping anddrying procedure was repeated three times on each sample. Following thedipping/drying steps, the sample was cured in air by ramping at 10°C./minute to 1500° C. where it was held for one hour and then cooled toroom temperature at 10° C./minute. The result was a glassyaluminosilicate material on the surface of the Al₂O₃ substrate.

EXAMPLE 5

A precursor solution was prepared by adding 36.30 grams of aluminumnitrate nonahydrate to 170 milliliters of ethanol. In a separatecontainer, 18.31 grams of phosphorus pentoxide was dissolved in 170milliliters of ethanol. The two solutions were mixed and a colloidformed within a few minutes of initial mixing resulting in a hazysolution. 160.1 milliliters of 98% tetraethyl orthosilicate was thenadded with further mixing. After one hour of stirring, the solutionreturned to clear and white precipitate was present. The solution wasthen stirred overnight for about 16 hours. The precursor solution wasapplied to an alumina substrate by dipping/submerging the substrate inthe solution for one minute and removing the sample with a controlledretraction velocity of 1.5 cm/second. Following removal from theprecursor solution, the sample and resulting wet film were dried 120° C.for 10 minutes. The dipping and drying procedure was repeated threetimes on each sample. Following the dipping/drying steps, the sample wascured in air by ramping at 10° C./minute to 1500° C. where it was heldfor one hour and then cooled to room temperature at 10° C./minute. Theresult was a glassy aluminosilicate material on the surface of the Al₂O₃substrate.

EXAMPLE 6

A precursor solution was prepared by adding 37.51 grams of aluminumnitrate nonahydrate to 170 milliliters of ethanol. In a separatecontainer, 9.46 grams of phosphorus pentoxide was dissolved in 170milliliters of ethanol. The two solutions were mixed and 160.0milliliters of 98% tetraethyl orthosilicate was added with furthermixing. The solution was then stirred overnight, about 16 hours. Theprecursor solution was applied to an alumina substrate bydipping/submerging the substrate in the solution for one minute andremoving the sample with a controlled retraction velocity of 1.5cm/second. Following removal from the precursor solution, the sample andresulting wet film were dried 120° C. for 10 minutes. The dipping anddrying procedure was repeated three times on each sample. Following thedipping/drying steps, the sample was cured in air by ramping at 10°C./minute to 1500° C. where it was held for 1 hour and then cooled toroom temperature at 10° C./minute. The result was a glassyaluminosilicate material on the surface of the Al₂O₃ substrate.

EXAMPLE 7

In this example, the inventive aluminosilicate glass material was alsoformed as a bulk powder. A precursor solution was prepared by adding36.30 grams of aluminum nitrate nonahydrate to 170 milliliters ofethanol. In a separate container, 18.31 grams of phosphorus pentoxidewas dissolved in 170 milliliters of ethanol. The two solutions weremixed and a colloid formed within a few minutes of initial mixingresulting in a hazy solution. 160.1 milliliters of 98% tetraethylorthosilicate was then added with further mixing. After one hour ofstirring the solution returned to clear and white precipitated waspresent. The solution was then stirred overnight, about 16 hours.Approximately 15 milliliters of the solution was then dried at 120° C.for 16 hours to form a gel powder. This gel powder was placed on azirconia-containing substrate and cured in air by ramping at 10°C./minute to 1500° C. where it was held for one hour and then cooled toroom temperature at 10° C./minute. The result was a transparent andglassy powder of aluminosilicate material.

EXAMPLE 8

A solution was prepared by adding 37.51 grams of aluminum nitratenonahydrate to 170 milliliters of ethanol. In a separate container, 9.46grams of phosphorus pentoxide was dissolved in 170 milliliters ofethanol. The two solutions were mixed and 160.0 milliliters of 98%tetraethyl orthosilicate was added with further mixing. The solution wasthen stirred overnight, about 16 hours. Approximately 2 milliliters ofthe precursor solution was then placed on a zirconia-containingsubstrate using a dropper. The wet solution was cured in air by rampingat 10° C./minute to 1500° C. where it was held for one hour and thencooled to room temperature at 10° C./minute. The result was theformation of aluminosilicate glassy material on the ZrO₂ substrate.

EXAMPLE 9

The oxidation protection provided by the aluminosilicate glassy materialdescribed in this invention as a coating on SiC was determined based onoxide scale thickness. A coating of the inventive aluminosilicate glasswas formed on SiC as described in Example 1. An aluminosilicate glasscoated SiC substrate and an uncoated SiC substrate alongside each otherwere both heated in air to 1500° C. at a ramp rate of 10° C./minute. Thesamples were held at 1500° C. for 42.5 hours and then cooled to roomtemperature at 10° C./minute. The samples were mounted in epoxy incross-section and polished to a finish of 0.1 microns. Scanning electronmicroscopy was used to determine the thickness of the oxide scales thatformed on the coated and uncoated samples. These scales were measured tobe 7 microns and 70 micron for the coated and uncoated samples,respectively indicating a 10-fold improvement in oxidation resistance ofSiC as a result of the presence of the inventive aluminosilicate glasscoating material.

EXAMPLE 10

The effect of the aluminosilicate glassy coating material of thisinvention on surface roughness of a substrate to which it is applied wasexamined. An aluminosilicate glass coating of an amorphousaluminosilicate material was formed on a SiC coupon substrate asdescribed in example 1. The root mean squared (RMS) surface roughnessvalue of the coated SiC coupon, alongside an otherwise identicaluncoated SiC substrate, were measured by atomic force microscopy (AFM)to be 2.7 nanometers and 1 micron, respectively. This indicates almostan order of magnitude improvement in the surface roughness due toapplication of the aluminosilicate glassy material coating.

1-33. (canceled)
 34. A method for producing a stable, silica-richaluminosilicate amorphous coating material on a substrate comprisingheating a mixture primarily comprising oxidic species of aluminum andphosphorous and a silicon-containing compound to a temperature at whichthe mixture melts and thereafter the phosphorous containing species issubstantially eliminated as a vapor whereby with the loss of thephosphorous containing species, the remaining aluminosilicatecomposition solidifies to become the amorphous coating material.
 35. Amethod according to claim 34 wherein said heating is performed inseparate stages of drying and subsequently curing and wherein the curingmay occur in service conditions.
 36. A method according to claim 34wherein said substrate has open-cell porosity with the pores havinginternal surfaces and said aluminosilicate amorphous coating material isformed on said internal pore surfaces.
 37. A method according to claim34 wherein said substrate is ceramic or metal and includes a layer ofsilica thereon.
 38. A method according to claim 34, wherein saidsubstrate is selected from a group consisting of a composite containingsilicon carbide based fiber or carbon based fiber in a silicon carbidebased matrix or carbon based matrix such as a C—C, C—SiC, SiC—SiC, or MISiC composite.
 39. A method according to claim 34 in which saidaluminosilicate amorphous coating material has a Si/Al atomic ratiogreater than
 4. 40. A method according to claim 34 in which said heatingis performed through surface heating.
 41. A method according to claim 34wherein said aluminosilicate amorphous coating material contains lessthan 1 weight percent phosphorous.
 42. A method according to claim 34wherein said aluminosilicate amorphous coating material contains lessthan 4 mole percent of metals other than aluminum and silicon.
 43. Amethod according to claim 34 in which said aluminosilicate amorphouscoating material contains an alkali or alkaline earth metal oxide.
 44. Amethod according to claim 34 wherein said substrate surface is acomponent in a heat engine.
 45. A method according to claim 34 whereinsaid mixture is applied to the substrate and the method of applicationincludes brushing, spraying, dip-coating, thermal spraying,infiltration, or vapor deposition or combinations thereof.
 46. A methodaccording to claim 34 wherein said silicon-containing compound is apowder.
 47. A method according to claim 34, wherein said mixturecontains dopants or elements to tailor the melting temperature.
 48. Amethod according to claim 34, wherein said aluminosilicate amorphouscoating material is formed on or within a ceramic refractory.
 49. Amethod according to claim 34, wherein said aluminosilicate amorphouscoating material is formed on or within a thermal or environmentalbarrier coating.
 50. A method according to claim 34, wherein saidaluminosilicate amorphous coating material is used in service as adiffusion barrier.
 51. A method according to claim 34 wherein saidsilicon-containing compound is derived from a source other than themixture of aluminum and phosphorous oxidic species.
 52. A methodaccording to claim 51 wherein said silicon-containing compound includessilicon carbide, silicon nitride, or silicon oxide.
 53. A methodaccording to claim 52 wherein said aluminosilicate amorphous coatingmaterial is formed by applying the mixture to the substrate by spray,brush, or flow followed by drying and curing to a temperature at whichthe mixture melts and thereafter the phosphorous species issubstantially eliminated.